Ladies, forgive me. This blog is written from a male perspective. Change the gender references to quarterback/band member, and the metaphor still applies.
In high school, there are two types of girls: the cute head cheerleader and the average-looking girl. Everybody likes the average girl but wants to date the head cheerleader. The average girl has a great personality and is consistent in everything. The cheerleader is always cute, but her emotions run the gamut.
At the 20-year reunion, the average-looking girl has become more attractive, if not beautiful. The cheerleader has gotten fat and continues to dye her hair an unnatural color. The guys start looking at the "average girl" differently than they did during high school. The problem is that they haven't changed the way they treat or interact with her. The average girl is still hurt by the guys' archaic advances and solicitations. The guys need to learn how to interact with her on her terms.
During the boom, aluminum and glass suppliers paid token attention to the average glass shop, but they chased the large commercial glazier. Glass shops had to reach out to suppliers before sales reps would even talk to them. Yet, those same sales reps would appear on bended knee before commercial glaziers.
Now that the boom is over and large commercial glazing jobs are few, glass shops have become more attractive to the aluminum and glass manufacturers/fabricators. The glass shops have small tenant build-out jobs, convenience stores and private corporate jobs; and, in many parts of the country, these jobs are prevalent. It's interesting that the suppliers have "come a-callin'" again to the glass shops.
The problem is that the suppliers haven't changed their attitude toward the glass shops. The glass shops are still merely a "skirt to chase". Come on suppliers! Change your ways. If you won't or can't change, we will find suppliers that really care about us. Learn how to treat us. Use the telephone, not email. Consistently, not intermittently, call on us. Schedule an appointment to see us in person before we need you. Ask us how you can help us (and then truly help us). Make us want to buy from you because of your attitude toward us and the way you treat us.
If you can't or won't change, then go back to your fat, broke, bleach blonde cheerleader!
The author is president of Evans Glass Co., and chairman-elect for the National Glass Association. Write him at bevans@evansglasscompany.com.
The opinions expressed here are those of the individual author and do not necessarily reflect those of the National Glass Association, Glass Magazine editors, or other glassblog contributors.
The 
Day two at the show was very strong with heavy traffic. It seemed like old times for a moment there. Really a fun day all around; now, to the floor...
On Sunday afternoon, Sept. 11, 2011, as exhibitors finished assembling their booths in the usual mad dash to opening day, a sharp-eyed security guard noticed flashes of light coming from under the Barkow truck in the 800 aisle of the GlassBuild America show floor. As he approached, two men ran off, one from under the truck where he was apparently taking pictures.
Why the interest? For 2011, General Motors widened its truck body. Barkow's solution: "Super single" rear tires that buy enough room between the body and the outside of the tires. With President John Weise's permission, I snapped this photo with my handy iPad so I could instantly upload this trade show tale of innovation and attempted copycatting.
As most of you know, 
They say a photo (or in this case, a video) is worth a thousand words, so I will keep this short.